Monday, April 9, 2012

THE PASSING OF AN ERA OF CASUAL FUN ON CAYE CAULKER.

MY HOLIDAY ON CAYE CAULKER HAS BEEN WITHOUT USE OF A BOAT. SADLY THE BUREAUCRATIC METHOD OF SELF SUSTAINABILITY HAS MADE SUCH PLEASANT PASTIMES IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS YOU ARE RICH.

My daughter has a dinghy and a small outboard motor. I asked to use them. She said, the regulations have gotten so tight and expensive, that they can no longer use either the dinghy, or the outboard. The last time they did, it ended up costing them $600 in fines. The modus operendi of the new government is to maintain bureaucracies through licenses, regulations, penalties and fines. The process has become too time consuming, red tape and expensive. Myriad small bureaucracies have been created to provide employment for mainland port town people, from recreational use. The days of yore, when you could build your own boat on the beach and enjoy it, are gone! Two months on Caye Caulker and I cannot go fishing, even close to shore, or enjoy an outing on the water. Everything is regulation, license fees, penalties and fines. The fun has gone out of island life for natives. Only commercial operations can use boats. Going to have to find a friend with a boat in the Rio Dulce and Lago Izabal to go visit.

THE PASSING OF AN ERA.

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